When you do freelance work, it can get a little bit lonely, especially if you’re transitioning from being a full-time, in-house employee to being out on your own. If you’re still adjusting to the freelance life, you should try working in coworking spaces to make you feel less lonely.
Working at coworking spaces makes you feel less alone because other people surround you. Although they’re not necessarily co-workers from the same company, they could be fellow freelancers or startup employees doing some remote work. And for this reason, making friends can be daunting.
If you’ve recently shifted to the freelancing life, welcome! You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll share our top tips on how to make new friends in coworking spaces. If you’re ready to make new connections, let’s get to it!
Reach out when you forget something
An excellent strategy you can try is something Benjamin Franklin used to do for getting people to like you, and it surprisingly works. It’s to ask people to do something for you.
When you forget something you need, try approaching the person next to you and ask if you can borrow something for a little bit. Asking to borrow something can be a way to start a conversation because you have the opportunity to introduce yourself and get to know them the moment you approach them.
Ask for restaurant and café recommendations around the area
If you’re new in this particular coworking space, using this next tactic is a great way to initiate conversation. When you don’t know where to grab some lunch, ask someone where the best restaurants are in the area. This is an awesome way to meet people and exchange knowledge about food and secret spots you can go to.
Sometimes, you might need an extra caffeine kick in the middle of the day. Try asking the person next to you where you can get a fantastic cup of flat white. They could give you a list of coffee shops around the area, or even better, take you to our awesome espresso bar on-site!
Asking for restaurant and café shop recommendations is the perfect opportunity to start a conversation and maybe even lead to the start of a friendship. Now, you have a friend and a coffee buddy! Isn’t that great?
Participate in the events at your coworking space
Another way to make new friends in a coworking space is by attending their events. Fortunately, coworking spaces love to host events, like game nights, barbeques, and more, and these are fantastic ways to mingle and make new friends.
Attending coworking space events is an easy way to meet other people because the vibe is more comfortable and casual, unlike during office hours when they’re all glued to their laptops and it’s much harder to start a conversation.
Strengthening your connections and relationships
Now that you’ve made friends and connections, moving from small talks to meaningful conversations is your next challenge. Ideally, you want to give it some time and allow your relationships to grow organically so that you don’t seem too eager and pushy. You can do this by striking light conversations from time to time and then eventually invite them out for a coffee break.
Conclusion
Making new friends in a coworking space can be a bit challenging; however, it’s a pretty thrilling experience, too. Now that you know our top tips on how to make new friends, doing freelance work won’t be too lonely. So get out of your comfort zone, put a smile on your face, initiate the conversation and make new friends that will help you enjoy your new freelance life!
Are you looking to do some coworking in Parramatta? Check out Grounded Space. We’re a coworking space that offers various packages that could cater to different types of freelancers and entrepreneurs. Check out our packages today!